Sense International welcomes revised Disability Framework

3 December 2015

Global deafblind charity Sense International has today responded to the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID) launch of the revised Disability Framework.

The Framework outlines DFID’s actions to strengthen disability inclusion in its international development programmes and policies. It has been launched at a lunch reception at the House of Lords on the 3 December as part of the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It follows closely on from the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the central message of which is to ‘Leave No One Behind’, this includes persons with disabilities.

Bond’s Disability and Development Group (DDG), of which Sense International is a member, actively contributed to the review process.

Carolyn Merry, Director of Sense International, said:

“We welcome DFID’s continued commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities in international development through its revised Disability Framework.

"We know from our experiences of supporting people with deafblindness in developing countries that their voices are often not heard. There is work still to be done as many do not experience the benefits of international aid.

“To truly leave no one behind, persons with disabilities must be at the core of the international development agenda, particularly as people with disabilities, to date, have been largely excluded by international development policies and programmes. The revised Disability Framework will be critical in ensuring the rights of people with disabilities and for keeping the promise to ‘leave no one behind’.”

Media enquiries

For enquiries about Sense International, please contact Laura Brown at the Sense International press office on 020 7014 9381 or email laura.brown@sense.org.uk.

About Sense International

Sense International is a global charity supporting people with deafblindness in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Peru, Romania and Uganda. We are one of the world’s leading international organisations working for people with deafblindness and their families.

Deafblindness is a combination of both sight and hearing difficulties. Some of these people are completely deaf and blind, but others have some remaining use of one or both senses.

Causes of deafblindness include premature birth and exposure to rubella during pregnancy, which can cause babies to be born deafblind. Sense therefore supports MMR which has proven to be the most effective vaccination programme against rubella. Some genetic conditions, such as Usher syndrome, can also result in deafblindness. People can also become deafblind at any time through illness, accident or in older age.

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